"And in that time you've had how many insurance claims?" Wainscott asked.

"Two -- a back door, and I lost my wedding ring. That was it," Hull said.

Hull was caught off guard when her American Family Insurance agent warned her of a "larger than normal" increase in her premium this year.

"What was your reaction when you saw this?" Wainscott asked.

"I was just disgusted. I just looked at it and threw it on the counter," Hull said. "My husband just glanced at it. and he actually threw it in the garbage."

The letter blames the rate hike on an insurance industry hit hard by storm losses "in Wisconsin and throughout the country."

"That came out of the blue," Hull said.

Hull wondered whether insurance industry losses from storm damage in other regions were raising her rates. So did another local policyholder who said her agent told her to expect nearly a 27 percent premium hike, due to "substantial storm losses" nationally.

WISN 12 News contacted American Family, which said Wisconsin rates are actually set solely on what happens in Wisconsin, including severe storms like this summer's Fox Valley tornadoes.

And as for those references to storms in other regions?

"That's more for context of what's going on pretty much countrywide. The rates of policyholders in Wisconsin is determined by experience in Wisconsin," American Family spokesman Steve Witmer said.

The company said those storms in other places don't factor into your premium price. It's all about the risk to homeowners right here in Wisconsin, but that doesn't change the fact that their rates are suddenly soaring.

The company told WISN 12 News the average Wisconsin policy-holder will see their premium rise 14 percent this year compared to an 8 percent jump last year and a 3.5 percent increase in 2011.

Wainscott also checked with a few other large insurers. Only State Farm replied in time for this report, saying it had a 2.8 percent increase at the first of the year, but can't predict what will happen with rates next January.

The Insurance Information Institute in Washington said the increases are common in the industry right now, but Wisconsin's homeowners actually pay premiums that are far less than the national average.

Still, the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner's Office said consumers worried about rates should to shop around, which is something Hull said she may consider.

"Our policy comes due in October, so hopefully we'll find out soon, so I'll have a little time to switch if I have to," Hull said.

The state insurance commissioner advices anyone who is shopping around to not cancel their current policy until they have new coverage in place.

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